What You Need To Know About Wedding Dress Fittings

wedding dress fittings

Selecting your dream wedding dress is extremely exciting, but the fun doesn’t stop there! Even though you’ve got the style and size picked out, you still have to schedule at least one dress fitting. This is to ensure that any alterations you have to make are taken care of and your dress is fitted to your body exactly. Ideally you will have chosen your wedding dress about 6 to 8 months before your wedding date, leaving you plenty of time to schedule multiple fittings with your salon or tailor. Here’s what you need to know about wedding dress fittings.

When should I have my dress fittings?

Before you can schedule any fittings, you need to wait for your gown to arrive. Typically it’s a good idea to schedule your first fitting about 6 to 8 weeks before the big day so that you have enough time to take care of alterations and multiple sessions. Before you leave the first session, schedule a second fitting about one month before your wedding date to try out all the alterations and fixes. If you’d like to have a third, and usually final, fitting, salons generally recommend that it is scheduled for 1 to 2 weeks before your wedding date. This way you can ensure that your dress will fit the way you want it and is comfortable just before the big day.

wedding dress fittings

Photo Credit: US Magazine

How many fittings should I schedule?

Depending on how many alterations your gown requires, brides typically schedule at least one fitting. It is common to have up to three fittings, and possibly more if the gown purchased requires a lot of alterations. When you receive your dress and go in for your first fitting, you will be able to see how many fixes need to be done to make it perfect. This will give you an idea of how many more sessions you’ll need to schedule. It’s important to schedule fittings until your dress fits exactly how you want it to and all the alterations you’ve commissioned are complete. An important thing to remember is that if you are planning on losing weight before the big day, it is strongly recommended to continue to schedule fittings up to the week beforehand so that your dress fits properly.

wedding gown fitting

Photo Credit: Slate

What should I expect from a fitting?

The first wedding dress fitting usually lasts about an hour, and this is the time for you to tell your salon or tailor all the fixes and adjustments you’d like to have done to your gown. You should make sure that your gown is the one you wanted – the correct size, the correct color, the correct style and the correct design. This is also your chance to meet the seamstress that will be working with you for every fitting until the big day, so you want to be sure that she knows what she’s doing! Your seamstress will start pinning the gown and tucking the fabric to mold the shape to your body, and take note of areas where fabric should be taken in or let out. As your seamstress is working, you should be able to see how your dress looks and feels in different areas. If anything is unsatisfactory, ask your seamstress to alter it for you. After this initial fitting, every fitting thereafter should be simpler. During each additional fitting, double check to see if all the requests from the previous fitting have been fulfilled. The absolute most crucial thing to take care of during these fittings is your comfort level. If you aren’t able to move around in your dress comfortably, then it needs to be altered so that you can.

wedding fitting questions

Photo Credit: Stitches

What should I bring with me?

Because you are trying on your wedding dress and adjusting it to look the way you want it to on the big day, you should bring everything else you plan to wear with it so you can see the whole ensemble. Bring your wedding shoes, lingerie and undergarments, veil, jewelry and accessories that you plan to wear. You may also want to bring your maid of honor or mother with you so you can have a second opinion on what looks best and what needs to be done, such as how to work the straps, clasps and buttons and how to bustle the dress correctly. Feel free to bring various options with you so that you can see what all your potential accessories look like with your gown, and take photos!

trying on wedding dresses

Photo Credit: Airman

When your final fitting is complete and you are satisfied with all the alterations and fixes that have been made, schedule a date and time to pick up your wedding dress before your special day. When you come to pick it up, try your dress on one last time to make sure everything still fits the way it’s supposed to. Double check care instructions so you know how to take care of wrinkles and stains on the day of if needed. Scheduling wedding dress fittings is an absolutely essential part of wedding planning, so make sure you allocate yourself plenty of time to do so! And remember, your seamstress should be an expert on what types of alterations should be done to suit your body, but when it comes down to it, your wedding dress should reflect your style, personality and wedding theme.

 

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